|
Introduction
This report presents an overview of the first 50 technology assessments done for Greater Milwaukee nonprofits by ENTECH (Empowering Nonprofits in Technology). ENTECH, a program of the Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management, is housed in the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The report is a first-ever look at the technology capabilities, deficits, needs and potential of Greater Milwaukee nonprofits.
History of ENTECH
In 1999, the Nonprofit Management Fund created the Technology Initiative, a program designed to support the information technology of nonprofits in Greater Milwaukee through grants, consultation and on-line resources. This innovative program has expanded to become ENTECH.
A cornerstone of ENTECH's services is technology assessment. Technology assessment involves a thorough evaluation of technology and communication resources in use, including recommendations for improvement. Since its inception, the program has provided 70 such assessments to a diverse group of nonprofit organizations.
The goal of providing technology assessments is two-fold. The primary goal is to assist individual nonprofit organizations in developing a technology plan to support management. In addition, as the number of assessments performed increases, ENTECH generates cumulative knowledge about the sector as a whole. This research has revealed commonalities and trends in the challenges faced by nonprofits. This report represents the analysis of the data gathered from the first 50 assessment participants.
Methodology
In preparation for each technology assessment, the recipient organization is required to complete the Assessment Instrument. This tool asks a variety of questions regarding information management, communications and media technologies. See Appendix A for a full description of each section covered in the assessment instrument. This assessment tool has undergone approximately 35 revisions during its lifetime, primarily in response to feedback provided by nonprofits and independent evaluators.
The completed tool is returned to the assessment team for review prior to an on-site visit, which allows ENTECH staff to discuss the information provided and identify priorities for consideration in preparation for the on-site visit. The on-site visit involves meeting with key management and technology staff to clarify information on the tool and discuss technology issues. In addition, as part of the assessment process, ENTECH staff correct and complete information provided on the assessment instrument.
A subset of the information collected on the assessment tool is stored in a database. In addition, further information is gathered during the on-site visit and during follow-up analysis. Much of the data collected is in the form of open-ended responses, which must be categorized by ENTECH staff for meaningful reporting. Consequently, each such response is subject to interpretation by ENTECH. Every effort has been made to accurately reflect the actual situations encountered by nonprofit organizations. The tool has also undergone several revisions, thereby affecting information collected in the database. Adjustments have been made to account for these discontinuities. This report has also revealed additional areas that ENTECH will consider tracking in future assessments.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Organizational Summary
Future Directions
Technology Planning
Training
Networking
Information Management
Hardware
Protection & Security
Internet Use
Technology Policies
Appendix |
